Rand is still getting sword lessons from Lan, when the wind seems to become solid around him, and pushes him into taking a serious wound. But Lan is oddly unconcerned, and moves on to why Rand is still here after a month, when he ended the last book planning to go into exile. He eventually admits that he’s hoping to talk to Moiraine again, who’s kept herself apart from him all this time, but Lan says she’s told him all she can, and he should go. It feels a bit like Jordan cleaning house after changing his mind about Rand’s story, but it fits well.
The exchange also lets us know that none of the others have left for Tar Valon yet, which is handy because an army of Aes Sedai, including their leader, arrive at the city, presumably because of Rand. And there’s a bit where Lan gives him a sympathetic look, so that can’t be good.
Another chapter that’s mostly about reminding us where book one ended, but it’s woven in more naturally than the prologue, and the two major developments of the wind and the Aes Sedai’s arrival indicate that this book will be getting off to a quicker start than before. We do already have everyone’s backstory out of the way, after all. Although, from what I’ve heard about this series’ tons of characters, we’ll probably be meeting a few new ones soon.
Comments
